Thousands of stranded migrants entered Croatia on Wednesday after Hungary closed it border with Serbia. Croatian media reported that more than 4,000 migrants have entered the country in last 24 hours, reported AFP.
The Croatian government said it would facilitate migrants' journey onward. It also announced the setting up of centers to accommodate those who are keen to stay in country.
"We are ready to accept and direct those people... to where they apparently wish to go," Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Wednesday, according to Yahoo News. "Migrant's religion and skin color is completely irrelevant."
Foreign minister Vesna Pusic, however, said that Croatia could handle thousands of migrants, but not tens of thousands.
"We are ready to (provide) asylum to a few thousand people and we can handle that, but we are not ready for tens of thousands. We do not have capacities for such an influx," Pusic told state-run HRT television, according to Zee News.
Migrants' arrival to Croatia came after the Hungarian government closed its border with Serbia forcing hundreds of migrants to search new EU routes.
Riot police in Hungary fired tear gas and used a water cannon on Wednesday at migrants trying to enter the country from the Serbian side, HNGN reported previously.
"We fled wars and violence and did not expect such brutality and inhumane treatment in Europe. Shame on you, Hungarians," an Iraqi migrant said, according to Associated Press.
Thousands of desperate migrants will now likely to use Croatian route to enter western Europe.
